There is something quite admirable about a manager who talks of a “winning mentality” when his team have won only one match in the past 20 years. Admirable or not, though, San Marino return to Wembley as Europe’s whipping boys once again, ready for another defeat on the grand stage that, if by fewer than four goals, would be a small victory in itself.

It was not long ago that England put 13 goals past them over two games in World Cup qualifying. Since then Roy Hodgson’s side have plumbed the depths in Brazil and returned to fight another day, while their opponents on Thursday night enjoyed a summer at their day jobs – in schools, universities, law firms and bars – rather than being ensnared in a maelstrom of discontent over the state of their national game.

Indeed, unlike many other nations, San Marino are comfortable about their place in the footballing hierarchy, even if the sovereign state of 30,000 people is joint bottom (208th) in the Fifa world rankings alongside the south Asian nation Bhutan. It has always been thus yet playing alongside Europe’s elite remains a privilege rather than an exercise in futility.

“Mine is a tenacious team who has a great desire to do well and who always start with the mindset of winning any game,” says the San Marino coach, Pierangelo Manzaroli, who was this year promoted from the under-21 role after the departure of Giampaolo Mazza, previously the coach for 15 years. “When I prepare for these important games I talk to my players, try to convey confidence and establish a winning mentality. Games always start from 0-0.”

It is a record that has prompted some to question whether San Marino should be allowed to compete in qualifying for major championships at all. Along with their only win 10 years ago, they have managed three draws in 123 official matches since entering international competition in 1990 – against Turkey in 1993, Latvia in 2001 and Liechtenstein in 2003.

In terms of what England will gain from Thursday’s match, the reality is very little. It is a chance for Hodgson to test inexperienced players in the national stadium but any attempt to dissect the performance, whatever the margin of victory, would almost be irrelevant given that only two players in the San Marino squad are regarded as professional.

Yet in response to suggestions that San Marino do not deserve to play at this level, Manzaroli said: “I answer that we are just like England, Germany and Italy, we have the same rights to take part in these international events. I’m lucky to coach guys who always want to improve, game after game, without thinking too much about the defeats. We’re getting closer to a vision of football that is more and more professional. You must remember, however, that our players play in amateur leagues, training only in the evening.”

The midfielder Mirko Palazzi – one of San Marino’s two professionals, who plays in the Italian fourth division with nearby Rimini – adds: “I feel proud to wear the shirt of the national team of San Marino. Even though mine is a small state, it is not less important than the bigger ones.”

San Marino have been joined in qualifying for Euro 2016 by Gibraltar, the British overseas territory with a similar population to the state surrounded by Italy. However, even though Gibraltar lost their first qualifier 7-0 to Poland, the British overseas territory have already drawn two away friendlies, in Slovakia and Estonia, and beat Malta in June.

“What I want to emphasise is the fact that we are a state that has 30,000 inhabitants and, unlike the other small states of Europe, only players 100% Sammarinese can play for the national team of San Marino,” says Manzaroli. “Here passports are not issued for sporting merit or any kind of naturalisations, and we are proud for this.”

As to their approach against England, he says: “We will try to play a careful defensive game, trying to make as few mistakes as possible.”